FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH AND GROUNDING COMES FROM GOD'S WORD AND GOD'S SON
I find it amazing today to see just how many people seem to be searching for Truth and a Foundation to build their lives upon. I have been spending a lot of time in 1st and 2nd Corinthians in my scripture reading, and it is eye opening to see and hear The Apostle Paul reaching out to the body of Believers to help them find grounding in the True Gospel ! Seems like by nature, people just seem to want to have various choices. Always looking for a different take or analysis on Truth. Often it is simply a way to “Justify” one’s own misbehavior or preference. SIN is a powerful adversary, and it always wants to control us and separate us from God, His Ways, and His Truth. The Corinthians were often caught up in False Teaching and a False Gospel. There is an inherent thought process throughout the church body that it is OK to overlook or excuse SIN out of love. NOTHING could be further from The TRUTH ! There are times when all of us lose sight of the GOSPEL and think that Our Behavior can cement our Salvation. IT CANNOT ! The mantra of “Being a Good Person” will certainly not provide a way to reconciliation with God The Father. Adherence to a set of laws and practices will not do the trick either. JESUS CHRIST IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE….No One Comes To The Father EXCEPT THROUGH HIM ! Once we are set and sure in Our Salvation, it does become critical to LIVE IN A GODLY MANNER. That CHANGE OF HEART is what propels us to Sanctification and Righteousness. It is the KEY to Abiding In Christ, And He In Us ! I have tried to illustrate this point throughout my writing ! Belief is Nothing without Transformation ! Belief can be hijacked by Emotion and Surface based change, but those things are not Lasting. A True Transformation of one’s HEART will allow our minds to be transformed as well as our behaviors….but it ALL STARTS WITH JESUS ! The Corinthians had to be reminded of some very important things, and we need to be reminded as well ! These are a few to contemplate : WE ARE IN HIM AND WORK TOGETHER WITH HIM. We are a part of The Body Of Christ, and the Power of Jesus and The Holy Spirit are present and bring “Fire” into us ! ; DON’T RECEIVE HIS GRACE IN VAIN. We should never take God’s presence, mercy and Grace for granted, ‘ GOD LISTENS TO US AND HELPS US…AT “HIS” APPOINTED TIME. We must Trust and Wait on His Perfect Timing. ; NOW IS THE TIME FOR SALVATION AND SEEKING GOD. Do not put off growing deeper in your Faith, and Sharing Your Faith with others ! Paul was trying to show the Corinthians that those who do God’s Will and Purpose have to have ENDURANCE ! We may suffer. We may be persecuted and find ourselves wanting. We also will find the Fruit of Purity, Knowledge, Kindness, Patience, Spirit Filed hearts and minds…and most of all LOVE ! The LIFE of a Christian who FOLLOWS CHRIST is a Narrow Path wrought with Challenges and Choices. WILL YOU WALK THAT PATH ?
CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART , O GOD, AND RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN ME. Psalm 51:10
I WILL GIVE THEM A HEART TO KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL RETURN TO ME WITH A WHOLE HEART. Jeremiah 24:7
SOW FOR YOURSELVES RIGHTEOUSNESS; REAP STEADFAST LOVE; BREAK UP YOUR FALLOW GROUND, FOR IT IS TIME TO SEEK THE LORD. THAT HE MAY COME AND RAIN RIGHTEOUSNESS UPON YOU. Hosea 10:12
AND I WILL GIVE THEM ONE HEART, AND A NEW SPIRIT I WILL PUT WITHIN THEM. I WILL REMOVE THE HEART OF STONE FROM THEIR FLESH AND GIVE THEM A HEART OF FLESH. Ezekiel 11:19
A Christian Life will see many opposing forces once the Path Is Taken. In many ways it will seem at times “Like A Battle”. I think that “The Battle” is what allows us to MATURE AND TRANSFORM TO A NEW CREATION ! Many things we face in life have Two Sides. Paul laid it out succinctly for the Corinthians. Glory will battle Dishonor. Repect will battle Slander. TRUTH will battle Deception, Life will battle Death. Rejoicing will battle Grieving. Blessings will battle Need. And yet through all these battles, GOD STANDS FIRM AND ALWAYS STEADFAST ! Jesus Died For Us, that WE might have LIFE ! The true challenge for us in many ways comes down to this: WILL WE OPEN OUR HEARTS TO CHRIST ?….WHAT WILL WE BE “TRANSFORMED” INTO ? Measuring to see if we are Truly All In, and What Changes does that Illuminate in our Lives ? ARE WE A NEW CREATION ? Following Christ is a Journey that requires Commitment, Surrender and Obedience. It also must encompass a need for Confession, and Self Forgiveness that must be Tied To REPENTANCE ! We can’t truly Follow Christ and not embrace Transformational Grace and Endurance. Without JESUS CHRIST AT THE CENTER OF OUR LIVES, WE WILL FALL SHORT ! No matter how much time one spends in Church, Ministry, Service, and Community…it all comes down to JESUS. WE must be GOD’S TEMPLE IN HIM. God demands that we be “Set Apart” from the world. Who we spend our time with, and How we spend our time will Determine Our Path And Our Maturity. Godly pursuits give us Strength and Resolve. Worldly pursuits bring us addiction, self serving idols, and passing pleasures. JESUS MADE IT CLEAR: WE MUST DIE TO OURSELF AND BECOME HIS. New Path, New Focus, New Heart, New Life :)
THEREFORE, IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION. THE OLD HAS PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, THE NEW HAS COME. 2 Corinthians 5:17
AND WE ALL, WITH UNVEILED FACE, BEHOLDING THE GLORY OF THE LORD, ARE BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE SAME IMAGE FROM ONE DEGREE OF GLORY TO ANOTHER. FOR THIS COMES FROM THE LORD WHO IS SPIRIT. 2 Corinthians 3:18
CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD, AND RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN ME. CAST ME NOT AWAY FROM YOUR PRESENCE, AND TAKE NOT YOUR HOLY SPIRIT FROM ME. RESTORE TO ME THE JOY OF YOUR SALVATION, AND UPHOLD ME WITH A WILLING SPIRIT. Psalm51:10-12
There are times when I examine my walk with Jesus, and know that I am falling short.. I have old and bad habits that can still capture me at times. I have days where I find life to be Frustrating and hard. DO YOU ? The Psalm above gives me GREAT PEACE AND HOPE ! I KNOW that JESUS is always beside me. I FEEL HIM ! I want a Clean Heart, and often ask for help, forgiveness, and Grace…and Jesus provides it For Me ! I FEEL His Spirit inside me, and it drives me to be WiILLING TO CHANGE AND FIGHT THROUGH MY FAILURES ! THE LOVE OF GOD IS UNDENIABLE AND STEADFAST ! NEVER DOUBT HIS LOVE FOR US AND HIS WILLINGNESS TO FORGIVE IF WE SEEK HIM AND REPENT ! Take heart and know that WE are just like the Corinthians, and the lessons that Paul was sharing and teaching them are oh so relevant to YOU AND ME ! BOTTOM LINE : ARE YOU READY TO GIVE JESUS CHRIST YOUR HEART AND YOUR LIFE ? THE TIME IS NOW::)
SURRENDER YOUR HEART/JAA
BE STILL. LET GO AMD LET GOD. Psalm 46:10